Names

I believe it is usually called an OB nurse or maternity nursing. Antepartum, labor and delivery and postpartum are the words you are looking for I think. Every hospital has an OB unit. :)

I want to be a perinatal nurse, one that deals with women during pregnancy, during labor, and 28 days after the babies birth...but alot of hospitals (and people) have different names for this job.

I was wondering what is the more commonly used name? And is this career in every (nearly) hopsital? Or is it broken down by the stages of pregnancy?

Thanks in advance

Well.....I'm an antepartum nurse-I deal mostly with women who are pregnant (not laboring). L&D nurses deal with the laboring mom and about 2 hours post partum. Mother Baby/Post Partum take care of mom till she goes home. If the baby is there 28 days later, s/he would be in the NICU or Pediatric or Peds Intensive Care (PICU). healthy babies don't hang out that long.

We don't mix and match, some hospitals do (well, mostly ante/L&D/PP switch around, not NICU/Peds/PICU).

Duelas are utilized in some areas of the country for the range of stages you mention. Nurses in hospitals are generally assigned to Post-partum, L&D and Nursery. But there are always exceptions. Are there any birthing centers in your area? Can you contact someone at the local hospitals?

Duelas are utilized in some areas of the country for the range of stages you mention.

Are you talking about doulas? A doula is not employed as a nurse. (She can be an RN as well, but the two roles are very different)

You should talk to nurses and doulas, and even midwives, to learn of the varying roles each play in perinatal care, and decide then, what it is you would like to pursue. GOOD LUCK!